Improvement in direct-acting engines



UNITED STATES LOUIS VVINTERBAUER, OF NEW YORK, N.' Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN DIRECT-ACTING ENGINES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,193, dated April 14, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LoUIs WINTERBAUER, of the city, county, and Sta-te of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Direct-Acting Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in the two figures.

The object of this invention is to arrange the main valve of a steam-cylinder in such a manner that the steam is changed and a full head of steam admitted as soon as the piston arrives at the ends of its stroke, and that the engine will pass the dead-points without the aid of a balance-wheel.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a steam-cylinder of the ordinary construction. The steam-chest B takes steam through the induction-pipe o, and it communicates with the interior of the cylinder through ports b b. The exhaust-steam passes oft' through the port c.

O is the main valve, which alternately admits steam through the ports b b', and the face of which is shaped in the manner of an ordinary D-valve. The body of this main valve forms a secondary steam-cylinder, O', which is provided with its own steam-ports d d', exhaust-port e, and slide-valve D. The piston f of the secondary cylinder is rigidly attached to the rod g, which is inserted into notches in the ends ofthe steam-chest in such a manner that it can rise and fall freely, but it is not allowed to move in a longitudinal direction. When the steam enters through one of the ports d or d', the cylinder G slides from one end of t-he steam-chest to the other, the piston f being stationary. The exhaustport e of the secondary cylinder communicates with the cavity of the main valve C, and through it with the exhaust-port of the main cylinder. The slide-valve D ofthe secondaxy cylinder moves on the side of said cylindir between ways l1., and its motion is limited by stops t', inserted into the face on which said motion takes place. The valve-rodj extends through a stufng-box in the end ot' the steamchest, and its outer end is guided in a standard, E.

F is a cam on a rock-shaft, 7c, to which au oscillating motion is imparted by an arm, G, which is rmly secured to the piston-rod H of the main piston I, and which is provided with a pin, Z, that catches into a slotted arm, Gr, on the rock-shaft lc. The cam F acts upon a tappet, m, on the valve-rod j, and by this action the steam in the secondary cylinder is changed.

The operation of my engine is as follows: When the main piston has arrived at the end of it-s stroke, the position of the various parts of my engine is such as represented in the drawings. The port b is wide open, and the port b communicates with the exhaust-port c. The steam-port d of the secondary cylinderis also open, and the port d communicates with the exhaust-port e, and through it with the exhaust of the main cylinder. The piston I, being thus exposed to the full head of steam, Inoves in the direction of the arrow marked on the piston-rod, causing the arm G and rock-shaft k to turn in the direction of the arrow marked near it in Fig. l. As the piston approaches the opposite end of its stroke, the cam F, by coming in contact with the tappet m, changes the position of the slide-valve D, steam is admitted through the port d', and the port d is brought in communication with the exhaust-port e. The secondary cylinder is thereby suddenly thrown from one end ot' the steam-chest to the other, and before the piston I has fully reached the end of its stroke the port b is thrown wide open, and a full head of steam is admitted to reverse the motion of said piston. The change of the main, valve is thus accomplished entirely Vby the action of the steam on the secondary cylinder, and the main piston is exposed to the full head of steam at either end of its stroke, cinsing the same to reverse its motion without the aid of a ily-wheel or other equivalent device.

My engine is particularly intended for steam-pumps, but it can be used with advantage in all cases where it is desirable to have a` uniform power during every part ot" the stroke of the piston, and particularly at the ends of its stroke.

What claim as new, and desire to secure 2. The exhaust-port e of the secondary oy1- by Letters Patent, isinder, in combination with the exhaust-port c 1. So combining the secondary cylinder C of the main cylinder, substantially als de- With the slide-valve D, tappet m, and cam F scribed, When so arranged that the secondary that by the motion of the secondary cylinder ylinder exhausts through the saune port with f' at the end. of each stroke the tappet m is car Je main -eylinden ried back to its central position, ready to b( LOUIS WINTERBAUER. fated upon by the @am F, substantially in the Witnesses: n, manner and for the purpose shown and dey M. S. PARTRIDGE, f* scribed. DANIEL ROBERTSON. 

